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Connie Cilley
“The next stop is Reconciliation Station!” said the voice on the loud speaker… “Those were the sweetest/scariest words I had heard,” I said as I messaged Chad. Quickly he responded, “You made the journey to Reconciliation Station? What did you find there?”
“Well, it all started when my friend sinned against me.” It was someone I loved and trusted. You know, one of my own. I won’t get into the nature of the sin. We have all been there, right? I agonized over what to do. If I could just make it to Reconciliation, things would be ok. I called Pastor Leslie and asked how to get there. She said, “Buy a ticket on God’s line to Reconciliation Station. The journey will be long. Some will make it and some won’t.” Perfect, I can do that. “But wait,” I pleadingly asked, “will God be upset if I don’t make it to Reconciliation?” “No,” she said, “God wants you on the train to Forgiveness, after that the journey is yours. You can’t make it alone. Your friend will have to travel also.” “So, to get to Reconciliation Station I have to go through Forgiveness?” I asked. “Yes,” she said.
I ran and purchased my ticket worrying as I grabbed my seat. I traveled through several train stops: Conviction, Repentance, Confession and Forgiveness. I won’t lie, it was hard riding on that train. It took time. I forgave my friend. Then bam, I was on my way to Reconciliation. As we pulled into the Station, all kinds of thoughts flooded my brain. What would I find? As the train doors flew open and I stepped onto the platform, I saw a huge poster that said “PEACE.” Wow! I arrived at Peace. I looked for my friend, a journey for two as Pastor Leslie had said. Then, I realized it didn’t matter. Either way I had still arrived at Peace. Suddenly, off in the distance I saw my friend. We had arrived together at a new beginning. Would I have been sad if my friend had not arrived? Sure. But I’m happy that I was not afraid to make the journey to Peace.
Friends and members of our Christ Church family have prepared these daily reflections as a means for you to consider how forgiveness informs your faith walk during this holy season. They are a richly diverse group from many different geographies around our nation and globe, formed by a wide variety of traditions.